Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-25

brought flowers and plants, ana even ex-
temporized q hanging garden on the quarter
deck.
1t was still raining, and the wind, which
had increased to a gale, WAS dashing the
drops against the slanting cabin windows
with a sound like spray when Mr.. Abner
Mott sat before a table seriously engaged
with his accounts. For it was steamer
night"-as that momeutous day of reck-
oning before the sailing of the regular mail
steamer was briefly known TO compercial
San FranciscO-and Mr.. Mott was subject
at such times to severely practical relapses.
A swinging light seemed to bring into
greater relief that peculiar encased casket-
ike security Of the low timbered, tightly
fitting apartment, with its toylike utilities
OF space, and made the pretty oval face OF
Rosey Mott appear a characteristic orna'
ment. The sliding door of the cabin com
inundated with the main deck, los rooted
10 and partitioned of so as to form small
passage that led to the open starbOard
gangway, where a narrow, iuclosed stair
c 3 so built on the ships side took the place
OF the ships ladder under her counter, and
opened in the street.
Adash of rain against the window caused
Rosey to lift her eyes from her book.
'It's much nicer h re than at the ranch,
father she said cOaNingly even leaving
alone it's being a beautiful ship instead OF
> shanty; the wind don't whistle through
the cracks and blow out the candle when
you're reading, nor the rain spoil your
things hung up against the wall. And
you look more like a gentleman sitting IN
his Own-ship-yOu know, looking over
his bills and getting ready to give his or,
ders."
Vague and general as Miss Rosey's com,
pliment WAS, it had it's full effect upOn heI
father, who was at times dimly conscious
of his hopeless rusticity and its incOngruity
with his surroundings. "Yes," he said
awkwardly, with a relaxation OF his az,
g~ressiye attitude; yes, in curse it's more
style, hut it don't pay-Rosey-it don't
pay. Ner's the Poutia that Oughter he
bringin' in, ez rents go, at least $500 q
month, don't make her taxes. l bin
thinkin' seriously OF sellin' her"
As ROsey knew her father had expert
EDGED this serious contemplation on the
first of every month for the last two years,
and cheeriully ignored it the next day,
she only said, Ppm sure the vacant rooms
and lofts are all rented, father
That's it, returned Mr.. Mott thought,
fully, plucking at his bushy whiskers with
his fingers and thumb as If he were re
moving dead and sapless membranes in
their growth, that's Just what it is
them's ez in ii themselves don't pay, and
them ez haz left their goods-the good
don't pay. The Teller ez stored them iron
sugar kittles in the fOrehOld, after trying
to get me to make another advance on
'em, sgZ he believes he'll have to sacrifice
'em TO me after all, and only begs I'd give
him a chance OF buying back the half o.
'em ten years from now, at double what
advanced him. The chap that left then
five hundred cases of hair dye tween deck,
and then skipped out to Sacramento, Inc
me the other day in the street and ad
yiSed me to use a bottle ez an advertise
ment, or try ii on the Starn OF the Pontiac
for fire proof paint. That foolishnerS {,
all he's good tor. and yet thar might b,
suthin' in the paint, if a ielleI had Niger
luck. There's that New York chap {.
bought up them damaged boxes OF plug
terbaker for $50 a thousand, and sold ZEN
tor foundations for that new building II
SansOme street at a thousand clear profit
It's all lack, Rosey.'
The girls eyes had wandered again Il
the pages OF her book. Perhaps she WA
already familiar with the text OF hcr
! fathers mOnOlogue. But recognizing al
additional querui"usness in his voice, she
laid the book aside aud patiently ioldel
her hands in her lap.
That's right-ior Hve suthin' TO tel
We. The fact il Sleight wants to buy th,
Pontiac out and out Just ez she staud'
| with the two fifty yara lots she stands on.
''Sleight wants to buy her? SlelGht?'
echoed ROSey i~GcreduiOusly.
''Iou bet, Sleight-the big i~inancier
| the smIrtcst man in Frisco
What does he want to buy her for
asked Rossy, knitting her pretty brows.
The apparently simple question sud
denly puzzled Mr.. Mott. He glanced
feebly at his daughter face, and irownc,
in vacant irritation. ''That'ssO q, ~ lie said
drawing Il long breath; there's suthiu' il
| that"
What did he say" continued tn,
young girl, imp0tiently.
Not much. You've got the Pontiac
Mott SCI he. 'You betr sen |. What
you take for her and the lot she stands on?
ser he, short and sharp. Some t~ellers
ROsey," said Mott, with = cunning smile
would hey b!urted out i big fgger anC
cotched. That amt my style. | jus
looked ut him. I'm wait fur your Tiger
until next steamer day sez he, and oil b,
goes like a shot. He's awtuily sharp
Roscy."
But it he is sharp, father, and he reall,
wants to buy the ship" returned ROscy
thOughtfully, Its only because he know
it's valuable property, and not because h,
likes it ~ we do. lie can't take that valu
away eyen If we don't sell it to him, an,
all the while we have the comfort Of In
dear old Pontiac, don't you see?'
This exhaustive commercial ~reasOnin!
WAS 50 sympathetic to Mr. Motifs i%nstinct
that ne accepted it as conclusive. lie
however, deemed it wise to still preseIy
his practical attitude. But that don
make il pay by the month, Rosey. Suthin
must be done. I'm thinking I'll cleal
ont that photographer"
Not inst after he's taken such n prett,
view OF the cabin front of the Pontiac iron
the street, father! No! He's going t
give us a copy, and put the other in
shop window in Montgomery street"
That's So" said Mr.. Mott, musingly
Its no SLOUGH OF an advertisement. 'Th
Pontiac, the PROPERTY of A. Mott, Esq, O
st. 10, NO. Send it on TO our Aun
Phoebe; sorter make the old folks oper
their eyes--oh? Well, seem he's been t
some expense fttin' MP IN entrance froH
the other street, well let him slide En-
rs to that id old Frenchman FerrerS
in the next loft, with his stuck mp airs an,
high falutiu style, we must get quit q
him; he's regularly gouged ME in that er
hOrSeh,ir s~pekilation."
GLOW can YOU say that, father sai'
Rusey, with a slight increase OF color. II
was your own offer. You know thOS
bales OF carried harsehair were left hchiu
by the late tenant to pay his rent. Whe,
Mr.. de FcrriercS rented the rnOu after
wards you told him You'd throw them in
in the place OF repairs and furniture.
was your own Oiltr.'
~. l,,N l,.r't ra,I,, ,La,' ,-,- l.